Class Thus Far.

Well... I don't know exactly where to start with this post. I have been extremely challenge by this class so far. Many of the points brought up in class have challenged me in many ways. I really enjoyed our conversations about the Scientific Method and how we should not teach it. At first, I was hesitant about whether or not to really believe that it shouldn't be taught. However, after discussions about it, I understand how it really isn't the best way to teach children about science. I've also learned a lot about what it actually means to do science and how it is all about trying things because we are interested learning about it. Both of those ideas, about the Scientific Method and the real meaning of Science, are two new ideas for me. They are both completely new ideas from what I learned when I was going through Elementary school.

One thing that has frustrated me in a good way (Professor Kruse already knows what I'm going to say...) is the idea of not being able to use God and science at the same time. My beliefs about it have not changed at all but I do enjoy being challenged in my thinking. It is, however, very frustrating at times because my belief about God is the most important thing to me. I look forward to being challenged throughout the sememster and I will continue to fight back. :)

Ideas on Science

In class, I was definitely challenged by what was said about science. Like a few fellow classmates, I too believed that science involved experiments and research. My whole life I have been told that science was doing things for an exact purpose and to figure something out. I was very interested by the idea that science it merely doing something that you are interested in. This could be extremely useful in teaching elementary children.

Why has science been turned into something that our students do not enjoy? As teachers, we will have the ability to change that. We can make science something that is more exciting for students by allowing them some choice in what and how we do things. Yes, there will be some things that we have to teach our students and some subjects that students will like more over others. However, what is stopping us as teachers from giving our students the liberty of choice in how they learn or choice on what they specifically study?

As a Christian I, despite what was said in class, use science to remind me how big and detail-oriented God is. I personally did not agree with our discussion on Scientific Naturalism because I believe that characteristics of God can be shown by science and research. I also believe that God can be used to fill in some of the gaps in science. I believe that asking a true Christian to step outside of their Christian mindset to have a secular view on something is impossible. When I became a Christian, I allowed the Holy Spirit to come inside me. To ask me as a scientist to get out of that mindset would be like asking someone born and raised in France to stop being French. I do not believe it is possible.

Student Goals

Overall, I believe that our student goals will be a useful tool for us as teachers. I believe it is essential for a teacher to teach with an end goal in mind. Like Professor Kruse has said in class before, we need to teach with a purpose, even if we do not know exactly how we will get there. I believe setting goals before we start off will be really helpful to target our teaching.

I really like all of our goals as something to aim for. However, I question whether or not it will be possible to accomplish all of the goals. Teaching is a collective profession. I may teach my students one way of doing things but their next teacher might not. If the teaching is not consistent from grade to grade, some of our goals will certainly be lost. Also, most of our goals are very broad and difficult to define. We our "Student Actions" it makes it a little easier to know how to reach the goal itself. However, the goals still seem to be something that will require a lot of work and precision.

I appreciate that our goals cover a variety of topics. I think that each of the goals are very important in creating a life long learner. If we all leave Drake with the mindset of teaching to these goals or developing goals with whichever school we find jobs, I believe it will be more likely for us establish these goals in the lives of our students.